A true pioneer of
the post war Louisiana musical genres and the first to bring Zydeco to a wide
audience, Clarence Garlow was born on February, 27th 1911 in Welsh (La). His
father, a dancer and musician with a local reputation, taught him how to play
fiddle, guitar and string bass while a neighbour showed the young Clarence how
to handle the Cajun accordion.

During
the 1930's, Garlow moved to Beaumont at the Texas border and began to play
music in the local clubs the week ends while making a living as a postman. He
was then a true fan of T-Bone Walker and after a meeting with his idol he
decided to become a full time musician, launching his band, playing a little
bit everywhere in Texas and Louisiana a wide repertoire of blues, ballads,
Hillbilly music and Cajun, particularly the new adaptation of the old la-las favored by the Black Cajuns and
more and more called the Zydeco. During the Autumn 1949, while playing in
Houston, Garlow met Macy Lela Henry and Steve Ponchio, who offered him to
record for their Macy's label. Among the titles recorded during those sessions,
Bon Ton Roulé (French Cajun
translation for Let's the good times roll)
played on a driving mambo rhythm was a hit, even climbing in the Top 100 R&B
in 1950.

Unfortunately
the dismiss of Macy's prevented Garlow for a more important hit but
nevertheless assured him to have better paid gigs a little bit everywhere in
the South West and to be on the bill of several R&B tours among major names.
Garlow also opened his own club in Beaumont, the Bon Ton Drive In who would
feature local acts as well as R&B touring stars.

Despite
several excellent records, Garlow wasn't able to repeat his initial success. In
1953, despite strong disagreements about the sophisticated West Coast
arrangements of Maxwell Davis and others, he recorded two sessions for the
major label Aladdin. But despite great hopes from everybody involved, those
records went nowhere and Clarence stuck in his Louisiana/ Texas home base the
following years, recording for J.D. Miller and Eddie Shuler (one great session Za Belle et Fais moi brailler/ Make me cry featuring him at the accordion).

The
1960's were very lean years for Garlow who had to disband his group and take a
job as a DJ on Beaumont's radio station KJET. This is how Mike Leadbitter found
and interviewed him for his Blues unlimited magazine in January 1968, spreading
his name and reputation among the European public. Unfortunately, all the
subsequent projects for a new album by Clarence fell short and Garlow died in
Beaumont 24 July 1986, leaving anywhere a great musical legacy.

This
article is largely based upon Leadbitter's interview and the essential John
Broven's book, South to Louisiana.
Thanks to Joel Arcenaux, Pierre Monnery and as always Jose Y. for their help
and loan of records. Four Garlow titles are unfortunately still missing and any
.mp3 copies would be most welcomed.

Great timing for me Gerard, I'm flying to Australia this afternoon to spend Xmas/NY with family & friends, so now I've got some new music to listen to on the flight. As always many thanks Gerard for making all this wonderful music available to us.